Chapter 8
The Death Eaters' assault on the Quidditch World Cup had thrown the entire camp into chaos. As screams filled the air and dark-robed figures began casting spells wildly, the Weasleys, Harry, and Hermione sprinted towards safety.
"Run!" Arthur Weasley shouted, his voice strained with urgency. The group moved as fast as they could, dodging hexes and curses that flew through the air like deadly fireworks. Hermione, running alongside Ron and Harry, couldn't shake her suspicion about the mysterious girl who had warned them earlier.
"That girl," Hermione panted, looking over her shoulder. "She must be part of them. How else would she have known that they would attack?"
"Now's not the time!" Ron yelled back, trying to keep up with his family.
An explosion suddenly erupted near them, throwing Harry to the ground with a force that knocked the wind out of him. Disoriented and bruised, he watched as the others continued to run, not realizing he was missing. Struggling to his feet, Harry barely had time to register the Death Eater who appeared before him, wand raised and ready.
"Potter," the Death Eater hissed, his voice dripping with malice. He cast a curse that Harry barely dodged, feeling the heat of the spell as it whooshed past him.
Harry raised his wand defensively. "Stupefy!" he shouted, sending a stunning spell towards the Death Eater. The man deflected it effortlessly and retaliated with a barrage of curses.
Hidden in the shadows, Zeta watched the duel unfold. She assessed Harry’s skills critically. He seemed just above average in power, but his spell arsenal was weak and lacked variety. His form was good, but he lacked the ruthlessness needed to survive such encounters.
The duel continued, with Harry managing to stun the Death Eater after a prolonged struggle. But the length of the battle had attracted more Death Eaters, who began to close in on him. Just as Harry braced himself for another attack, the heads of three Death Eaters on his right side exploded. Blood splattered across the ground as their bodies dropped.
Out of the shadow where they had fallen, Zeta emerged, her expression cold and unfeeling. Harry recognized her and, in his shock, instinctively shot a stunning spell at her. Zeta casually flicked it away with her hand, multiplying its strength. The redirected spell hit another Death Eater, punching a hole through his body and dropping him to the ground, screaming as blood poured from the wound.
Harry was taken aback by the casual display of wandless magic and the sheer brutality of the attack. Zeta approached him, her eyes narrowed. "I just helped you, and you attack me? You're dumber than I thought."
Harry, still stunned, lowered his wand slightly. "What do you want?"
"We fight together," Zeta suggested, her tone leaving no room for argument.
He warily agreed, and Zeta immediately launched into action. She shot out a purple whirlwind that sucked in two Death Eaters, shredding them to bits. Harry, still using non-lethal methods, was shocked by Zeta's deadly efficiency.
A Death Eater lunged at Zeta, and she met his spell with a beam of her own magic. They held the beam for a moment before Zeta's overwhelming power pushed through, obliterating the Death Eater. As more and more Death Eaters closed in, she announced, "Finishing Move, A Thousand Blades."
A black mist formed around them, creating a multitude of small swords and daggers—likely closer to ten thousand. Zeta could smell the fear of her enemies as they hesitated.
A green spell flew by her, grazing her skin and creating a shallow cut on her face. She barely flinched, knowing she could heal it later. With a flick of her wrist, the blades rained down on the Death Eaters. Most were not quick enough to react, their bodies pierced by multiple blades that drained their magic and blood rapidly.
As the last of the Death Eaters fell, Zeta let the blades disappear into mist again. Harry stood in shock, his mind reeling from the powerful magic display and the numerous dead bodies around them.
"Why did you kill them all?" he asked, a mix of fear and curiosity in his voice.
Zeta looked at him coldly. "They were a threat. Eliminating threats is necessary."
Above them, Voldemort's dark mark loomed in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the battlefield. The sound of pops filled the air as Ministry officials and aurors apparated around them, throwing stunning and disarming spells.
"Get down!" Harry shouted, ducking, but Zeta stood her ground. She created a magical barrier around herself, absorbing the spells effortlessly.
"Stop!" Arthur Weasley's voice rang out. "They're just kids!"
The aurors hesitated, then lowered their wands as they recognized Harry. They quickly surrounded him, checking for injuries.
"Harry, did you cast the Dark Mark?" one of the officials asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
"No," Harry replied, still breathless. "I saw a man cast it. We were attacked."
They turned their attention to Zeta, who remained silent and aloof. "And who is she?"
"She helped me fight," Harry said, his voice steady. "She saved my life."
The officials looked around at the carnage. "Did she do all this?" one of them asked incredulously.
Harry nodded. "Yes, after they attacked us."
The officials exchanged uneasy glances but didn't press further. They were more concerned with the Death Eater attack and the implications of the Dark Mark.
Zeta turned to leave, and Harry followed her, desperate for answers. "Wait!"
She stopped but didn't turn around. "What is it?"
"Who are you? Why are you helping me?" Harry asked, his voice a mix of frustration and curiosity.
She glanced over her shoulder. "You'll find out soon enough. See you at school." And with that, she apparated away, leaving Harry confused and intrigued.
Zeta reappeared in her safehouse, the familiar surroundings offering a brief sense of comfort. As she stepped inside, she noticed a figure seated in the shadows. Her master, Shadow, was waiting for her. She immediately bowed, a sign of respect and deference.
"Master," she said, her voice steady. "I have returned."
Shadow gestured for her to rise and sit beside him. "Tell me everything you have learned," he said, his tone calm but commanding.
Zeta detailed the events of the past few days, from her reconnaissance in Diagon Alley to the attack at the Quidditch World Cup. She described the tactics of the Death Eaters, the weaknesses she had observed, and the interaction with Harry Potter and his friends.
Shadow listened intently, his eyes never leaving her face. When she finished, he leaned back, deep in thought. "You did well," he finally said. "Your observations will be invaluable. The wizarding world is indeed on the brink of war."
Zeta nodded, her mind already racing with the next steps. "What do you wish for me to do next, Master?"
Shadow smiled, a cold, calculating smile. "For now, continue to gather information. We must understand our enemies thoroughly before we make our move. And keep a close eye on Harry Potter. He may be more important than he seems."
"As you wish, Master," Zeta replied, determination in her eyes.
Shadow stood, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Remember, Zeta, our mission is of the utmost importance. Trust no one and remain vigilant."
Zeta bowed her head. "I will not fail you, Master."